One thing has become crystal clear in a little over half a season — Michael Laudrup must be kept in the Premier League for as long as possible. And that probably means keeping him out of Chelsea’s clutches.

An obvious conclusion from Swansea’s removal of Chelsea from the Capital One Cup last night is that it moves their impressive manager up the shortlist of poor souls supposed to be under the inscrutable eye of Roman Abramovich now Pep Guardiola has confirmed the easiest decision of his life and bypassed the Fulham Road on the way to Munich.

But what, beyond easy money and any sentimental attraction in following in his brother Brian’s footsteps, would be the advantage for Laudrup (above) in taking a trip along the M4?

He has become instantly popular in the Premier League and our football promises to bring the biggest success of his managerial career so far. He is with an exemplary club and, to paraphrase his predecessor Brendan Rodgers, trying to build something, not destroy it.

Swansea is the place. By the start of next season, South Wales could command 10 per cent of the Premier League.

It could be our answer to Catalunya, except with even better songs (Swansea’s has led the Premier League by a mile since it arrived in August 2011).

The composition of the footballing soil seems to suit Laudrup as it did Rodgers and, before him, Roberto Martinez.

So there really isn’t any risk in staying for at least another season. Nor, I suppose, in going, should he ever receive an offer that convinces him, as Liverpool convinced Rodgers, that the conditions will be provided for a club’s sustainable growth.

To say that such conditions are unlikely to be provided at Chelsea in the foreseeable future would be to define understatement.